Social Policy Association
banner
socialpolicyuk.bsky.social
Social Policy Association
@socialpolicyuk.bsky.social
SPA: the professional association for lecturers, researchers and students of social policy in the UK and internationally.

https://social-policy.org.uk/
Pinned
Excellence in social policy teaching, research and impact has been recognised by the 2025 Social Policy Association awards. Many congratulations to the winners!

View the list of winners for each category in this thread and our story on the awards here: lnkd.in/eqN2PeVs

(Images: Elizabeth Bailey)
📣Contribute to a Social Policy masterclass with PhD students!

The SPA and the ESRC South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership are looking for social policy experts to talk about their use of research methods in a 2026 masterclass.

Read how to get involved ⬇️

social-policy.org.uk/events/news-...
News: Invitation to contribute to Social Policy masterclass with PhD students - Social Policy Association
Do you use one or more methodologies in your research in an area of social policy? Would you like to give a talk to PhD [...]
social-policy.org.uk
November 26, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by Social Policy Association
New on the Social Policy Blog:

“Understanding the Disparities in Formal Childcare Uptake Among Migrants in Europe and Australia”
by Jonas Wood.

@socialpolicyuk.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org @academiclee.bsky.social @v-yilmaz.bsky.social

socialpolicyblog.co.uk/2025/11/25/u...
Why Migrant Families Use Less Formal Childcare in Europe and Australia
How labour markets, inequality and childcare system design contribute to migrant–native differences in formal childcare uptake across Europe and Australia.
socialpolicyblog.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Reposted by Social Policy Association
It's great to see the @socialpolicyblog.bsky.social is now on BlueSky! Follow for insightful #SocialPolicy analysis from @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social authors and more!
We’re now live on Bluesky! And we're back online and preparing for a full re-launch next week!

We’re the companion blog to the SPA's journals — Journal of Social Policy, Social Policy & Society, and Journal of International & Comparative Social Policy.

Follow us here and at socialpolicyblog.co.uk
Social Policy Blog
Companion Blog to the Journal of Social Policy, Social Policy & Society, and the Journal of International & Comparative Social Policy
socialpolicyblog.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 5:51 PM
📣New blog: "Making a Contribution: Reflections on my role as a UC Claimant Survivor advocating for co-designed welfare reform"

By Lisa Holden - part of the series 'Critical Perspectives on lived experience in Social Security Policy Research'.

▶️ social-policy.org.uk/news/blog-ma...
November 20, 2025 at 11:24 AM
📣New blog: "Promoting Students’ Engagement with Formative Essays through Reflexive Learning"

By Arvind Kumar (University of Hertfordshire and Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London)

▶️ social-policy.org.uk/news/blog-pr...
November 12, 2025 at 10:45 AM
📣Call for Papers: Sustainable Welfare Workshop.

This one-day workshop in Glasgow explores how welfare institutions, labour markets, and systems of care can be re-imagined to ensure equity and wellbeing within ecological limits.

📅Deadline: 12 December 2025

▶️ social-policy.org.uk/events/call-...
Call for Papers: Sustainable Welfare Workshop - Social Policy Association
Call for Papers: Sustainable Welfare Workshop 12th March 2026 The University of Glasgow  We are living in a time of polycrisis, where related and interdependent [...]
social-policy.org.uk
November 5, 2025 at 11:24 AM
📣New blog: "Skills in the UK: Challenges and Opportunities for Boosting Economic Growth and Achieving Net Zero"

By Elke Heins (University of Edinburgh) and Steven Ballantyne (Freie Universität Berlin).

▶️ social-policy.org.uk/spa-blog/blo...
November 5, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Reposted by Social Policy Association
Come and work with us in #Sociology at University of Glasgow! #Lecturer in the Sociology of Social Justice and Inequalities, LTS 2 year post. Teach to change societies! #SocialJustice #Inequalities @uofgsociology.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social
Lecturer in the Sociology of Social Justice and Inequalities (LTS)
College of Social Sciences School of Social & Political Sciences   Lecturer in the Sociology of Social Justice and Inequalities (LTS) Vacancy Reference: 184933 Salary, Grade 7, £41,064 - £46,04...
www.jobs.gla.ac.uk
October 27, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by Social Policy Association
Looking forward to speaking here:
📣Upcoming event: "Immigration, Citizenship, and Social Policy in the UK"

Hybrid, University of Edinburgh.

Wednesday 29 October, 09:30 – 15:30.

A one-day workshop on how immigration status shapes access to work, education, healthcare, housing, and safety.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spa-worksh...
October 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Reposted by Social Policy Association
Delighted to share my contribution to the SPA blog, featuring my reflections on attending the EASP–SPA Conference in July 2025. Many thanks once again to the organisers of the SPA Pensions Policy Group (Hayley James, Ellie Suh, Liam Foster) and @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social for generous support!
Blog: Attending the Social Policy Association annual conference – reports from early career researchers from the Pensions Policy Group - Social Policy Association
Attending the Social Policy Association annual conference – reports from early career researchers from the Pensions Policy Group Keywords: pensions policy, annual conference, early career, [...]
social-policy.org.uk
October 21, 2025 at 3:32 PM
📣New blog: "Attending the Social Policy Association annual conference – reports from early career researchers from the Pensions Policy Group"

By Kun Lee and Emefa Awuku

▶️ social-policy.org.uk/spa-blog/blo...
Blog: Attending the Social Policy Association annual conference – reports from early career researchers from the Pensions Policy Group - Social Policy Association
Attending the Social Policy Association annual conference – reports from early career researchers from the Pensions Policy Group Keywords: pensions policy, annual conference, early career, [...]
social-policy.org.uk
October 20, 2025 at 9:37 AM
📣Upcoming event: "Immigration, Citizenship, and Social Policy in the UK"

Hybrid, University of Edinburgh.

Wednesday 29 October, 09:30 – 15:30.

A one-day workshop on how immigration status shapes access to work, education, healthcare, housing, and safety.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spa-worksh...
October 15, 2025 at 10:10 AM
📣New blog: "Afternoon Tea and Policy in Renfrewshire"

Hartwig Pautz, Greig Inglis, Colin Clark and Julie Clark report on six workshops discussing five different social policy problems.

▶️ social-policy.org.uk/spa-blog/blo...
Blog: Afternoon Tea and Policy in Renfrewshire - Social Policy Association
By Hartwig Pautz, Greig Inglis, Colin Clark and Julie Clark. A Social Policy Association Opportunity Grants Project Report. — The Paisley campus of the University [...]
social-policy.org.uk
October 15, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Reposted by Social Policy Association
Centre for Care Director, Kate Hamblin, has contributed to a new House of Commons Library briefing entitled 'The implications of population ageing for social policy'.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

@houseofcommons.parliament.uk @commonshealth.bsky.social @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social
The implications of population ageing for social policy
The UK population is ageing, with some ageing better than others. This has implications for health and social care, housing, pensions and education policies.
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
October 7, 2025 at 1:26 PM
🔊The SPA Opportunity Grants scheme for Autumn 2025 closes this Friday 10th October!

💷Up to £1K or £5K available to support social policy events.

Details here:

▶️https://social-policy.org.uk/opportunity-grants/
October 6, 2025 at 9:31 AM
📣New blog: "Tax Expenditures: Challenges and Opportunities in the UK and Beyond"

By Agustin Redonda (Council on Economic Policies) and Adrian Sinfield (University of Edinburgh).

▶️ social-policy.org.uk/spa-blog/blo...
Blog: Tax Expenditures: Challenges and Opportunities in the UK and Beyond - Social Policy Association
By Agustin Redonda (Council on Economic Policies) and Adrian Sinfield (University of Edinburgh). — Earlier this year, the first in-person conference of the Social Policy [...]
social-policy.org.uk
September 22, 2025 at 11:13 AM
🔊The SPA Opportunity Grants scheme is now open for its autumn 2025 round!

💷Up to >£1K or <£5K available to support social policy events.

Deadline 10 October. Details here:

▶️https://social-policy.org.uk/opportunity-grants/
September 22, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Reposted by Social Policy Association
The ever-fruitful @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social Opportunity Grants scheme is now open for its autumn 2025 round. As always, applications are warmly welcomed. Deadline 10 October. Details here: social-policy.org.uk/opportunity-...
Opportunity Grants - Social Policy Association
Social Policy Association Opportunity Grants Please find information below about the Social Policy Association’s Opportunity Grants programme for Autumn 2025. Deadline for applications: 10 [...]
social-policy.org.uk
September 16, 2025 at 11:19 AM
📣New blog: "Who are working people and why is growth good?"

By Neil Small, Emeritus Professor of Health Research at the University of Bradford (@neilsmall.bsky.social)

▶️ social-policy.org.uk/news/blog-wh...
Blog: Who are working people and why is growth good? - Social Policy Association
By Neil Small, Emeritus Professor of Health Research at the University of Bradford. Keywords: Fiscal policy, growth, UK Parliament, working people. Image from Pixabay on [...]
social-policy.org.uk
September 16, 2025 at 9:09 AM
📣New blog: "autism education in Wales and Northern Ireland: why promises still fall short"

By Elliw Siân Williams, the blog draws on a recent undergraduate dissertation comparing autism education policies and practices in Wales and Northern Ireland.

▶️ social-policy.org.uk/spa-blog/blo...
Blog: Autism Education in Wales and Northern Ireland: Why Promises Still Fall Short - Social Policy Association
By Elliw Siân Williams. Key Words: Autism education Wales, inclusive education Northern Ireland, autism policy UK, special educational needs, Additional Learning Needs Act Wales, Autism [...]
social-policy.org.uk
September 8, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Reposted by Social Policy Association
At Social Policy and Society (SPS) we are looking for a new Co-Editor, to work alongside me for the next few years. Deadline for applications: 20th October. SPS is a journal of the SPA (@socialpolicyuk.bsky.social). See requirements at application process on: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
September 3, 2025 at 6:37 AM
📣Upcoming SPA-supported workshop on skills and the green transition in the UK at the University of Edinburgh.

13:00 - 17:15, Thursday 18 September

Organised by Dr. Steven Ballantyne (Freie Universitat Berlin) and Dr. Elke Heins (University of Edinburgh).

▶️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/collaborat...
Collaborative Workshop: Skills in the UK
Challenges and Opportunities for Boosting Economic Growth and Achieving Net Zero
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 2, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Social Policy and Society (SPS) are looking for a new Co-Editor!

Deadline for applications: 20th October.

Read all information here: social-policy.org.uk/news/call-fo...
Call for new Co-Editor – Social Policy and Society - Social Policy Association
Message for the attention of SPA members  — One of the current co-editors of the journal Social Policy and Society (Dr Ruby Chau) will complete [...]
social-policy.org.uk
September 2, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Research briefing launch event: "Successfully engaging paid care workers in organising: Challenges, opportunities, and what works".

12pm to 1pm, 18th September 2025

via Zoom

w/ Duncan Fisher( @duncfsh.bsky.social) and Liam Foster, Uni of Sheffield.

Info ▶️ social-policy.org.uk/events/resea...
Research briefing launch event [online]: Successfully engaging paid care workers in organising: Challenges, opportunities, and what works - Social Policy Association
This online event will introduce a new research briefing and generate discussion of organising and union activity among paid adult social care (ASC) workers and [...]
social-policy.org.uk
August 27, 2025 at 9:48 AM
📣 New blog: 'How media amplification shapes Britain’s view of asylum — and why ‘hotels’ keep eclipsing everything else'

By Prof. Nasar Meer (@nasarmeer.bsky.social)

Read on the SPA website here ➡️ social-policy.org.uk/uncategorize...
How media amplification shapes Britain’s view of asylum — and why ‘hotels’ keep eclipsing everything else - Social Policy Association
By Professor Nasar Meer (University of Glasgow). — The row over “asylum seekers in hotels” looks like a story about numbers. In reality, it’s a [...]
social-policy.org.uk
August 27, 2025 at 9:38 AM